Whic CD player would you pick and why

Lysaker, I second Macdadtexas' idea. I believe the future of digital is not on external media. For $6500, I would buy a dedicated PC with extra drive, rip all my CDs (and/or pay someone to do it), and then buy a great DAC with an extremely well-implemented output stage (note: DAC and O/P stage don't necessarily have to be the same box if you are willing to be creative). I have not heard enough PC-->DAC implementations to even claim much knowledge, so cannot say whether they are up to snuff. However, at this point, the bet I would personally make is that the juice is in the DAC and the jitter-reduction/elimination from transport to DAC, not in the mechanics of the transport itself. Personally, I am intrigued by the Buffalo DAC and by the DDDAC. I am also interested in the cMP (search for cics music player on Audioasylum PC Audio forum) though I have not delved deeply enough into that to know whether it is flexible enough for my goals. Part of the whole thing for me would be a good UI and I don't know much about the cMP UI. I have an inkling I would like to use a small touchscreen anyway, and keep the PC box out of site. In any of those cases, I might try to put in a bigger/better/more$$$ output stage though.

Lysaker, I have no info or opinion on the Linn. There are so many DACs out there (and so many flavors that people like) that I would recommend spending a bit of time digging around in the archives here and over at Audioasylum.